Over the last 6 months I have been accumulating parts for my Vernon Barker lo-pro. Initially I was going to build it up into yet another fixie for myself but when the frame arrived from the UK (purchased on ebay for 90 pounds!) I realised that it was just too beautiful to emasculate. So I decided on parts from the Dura Ace 74XX series. Some of them are below:
NOS 8 speed
Near NOS Levers from Fyxomatosis and NOS hoods from the UK
NOS 167.5 mm. Chainrings to be replaced with a Cycle Underground single ring. Bike can only be 1x8 speed as there is only 1 derailleur braze-on.
Near NOS brakeset. Maybe went a bit too far in the future but I wanted dual pivots. The single pivots are sexy but wanted slightly more functionality. Hope the single/dual combo doesn't cause problems.
NOS Dura Ace PD-7401 pedals and near NOS aero seatpost
NOS 13-21 Uniglide cassette. Since it will only be 1x8 I wanted tightly spaced gears. Bailout gear at about 48-21 - no hill climbing for this time trial bike! NOS 7400 headset.
NOS 7400 bottom bracket and near NOS front (36 h) and rear hubs (28 h) with those beautiful skewers.
Near NOS 7400 stem, Nitto RB-009 bull horns and used Scott "Lemond" aero bars. Got tired of missing out on Moser 51.151 horns and the Nitto's replicate the shape beautifully. Scott bars are cool. Everything is angled a bit low in the Scott bar shot including the bullhorns. The Scott's should probably be angled up more too.
Some info on the frame from the builder himself:
"This certainly looks like one of my low pro frames. Unfortunately when I retired a few years ago, the people who bought the business lost or destroyed all my records. The number 9063 or 9069 fits in with our numbering system and the details of construction look like my handiwork. The number indicates it was built in 1990, and this model is typical of the low pro's built at this time. The lugs are made by Haden specifically to suit small front wheeled frames. I cannot be sure of the tube type but it would be at the worst Reynolds 531 and could be 653 or even 753."
The colour has to be seen to be believed. When I first pulled it out of the box I couldn't believe my luck. It is in near-perfect condition for a 20 year old frame and the paintwork is still immaculate.
The rear rim is a Velocity Deep V mill finish that has been polished. Front is a Velocity Fusion 24" clincher that was stripped from black and polished. Still more polishing to go.
Still a few things left to finish - determine spoke length and order, single chainring, tyres and saddle.
Saddle question
Have a white used Concor Supercorsa Confort but it isn't so great after about 40kms. Bike will only be ridden probably a maximum of 60km at a time. Do like the Flite Titanium and Selle Rolls as appropriate period saddles but unsure of their qualities. Anyone with experience or suggestions?
Spoke question
I weigh approx 68kg. Can I go radial on the front with the 24" wheel but with only 18 spokes rather than 36? Google suggests spokes in 2 holes, skip 2, spoke 2 etc.
Will be finishing this thing in the next few months and will post updates as I get it all together. Supposed to be going to NYC around May so have to be circumspect in my bike purchases now. Already spent all anniversary, bday, xmas presents for this year last year WITH THE MOSER BUILD and tinkering on other bikes.
My FLICKR SET FOR THE VERNON - some other photos.
CHEERS.
I was thinking that maybe 12 would be better with offset holes in the rim(spoke in left hole, miss right hole, miss left hole, spoke in right hole, etc) and on a 24" rim 12 spokes might be okay if well built (citing old corimas there...)? but again, it would be best on a rim and hub with correct hole placement.
Hard to find low count rims in 24" that take clinchers. the fusion matches the deep-v rear nicely but i think only comes in 32 or 36.
